Brushstrokes

In Dhangadhi I did my first painting ever inspired by the flatland (Terai) of Nepal. There in the western part of Nepal i lived for three years from 2013 till 2016. In spring 2016 I had a Chance to share a small selection of paintings with my friends showing beautiful people and landscapes of the Terai. I thank my dear friends and the Terai for Inspiration

It seems that the sun is rising earlier than usual today in Bardia to wake you up for breakfast. You welcome the sun with your morning cup of tea and are pleased with the gentle pink light spreading over the Terai.

The thick grey fog over the Terai in winter with the sun coming through.

The wettest period stretches from the end of June to the beginning of September in the Terai bringing greyness

“get away from the crowd, rent a boat and paddle around to see the lake and its environment at different angles enjoying the serenity”

The long silver sleeves of the Karnali River are reaching the Terai by leaving behind the blue shadows of the Himalayas

Rooftops equipped with no chimney but water tanks face the bright vibrant sky above Dhangadhi.

The thick grey fog over the Terai in winter versus the explosion of mustard-yellow flowers in its protesting contrast.

Paddy planted, Dhangadhi

Rana Tharu Woman

Rana Tharu Woman

A Rana Tharu woman in her colourful dress is prepared for the harvest puja.

The Rara Lake was there to impress with its turquoise color reflecting the mountain peaks surrounding it. We stood there blown around in the wind enjoying a view at the Rara to the north of us and the peak Kanjirowa dominantly rising from the Dolpa site.

Sunflower in Mugu, Nepal

Tharu girl Sweta is attentively observing how her mother is dyeing the elephant grass in festive red to prepare it for weaving Dakhiyas (baskets).

Today the wheat-yellow month of Baisakh is showing a cobalt-blue sky.

Words

From time to time the words are born…anyone can make them born! In my case it happens less frequent then it might do with an average being, who from time to time writes a love poem or epigram…or at least makes a note in his or her diary. Yes, it happens with those who has a passion to share.

Quite recently I’ve remembered a poem which I wrote to my grandfather. I desperately tried to find it and finally found. I read. The same feelings, but not the words which I would have used now. 16 years have passed since then and so many things which changed around me – places, people, thoughts, but you touch yourself from inside and realize it is still the same person who looks from the child Picture. As a child I was always quiet as if I had secrets, quiet till the moment while something vital happens and then uups all those “secret thoughts” are blurted out…. Why not to store these thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, so nothing is los.

WORDS FROM NEPAL

I do not why, but when I wanted to tell you about the fireflies in Dhangadhi, it brought to mind the trip with my friends to Murghab, a town located in the eastern Pamir region in Tajikistan. I remember us having stood with our heads up to the night sky and ours cries of “wow, awesome!!!” as dozens of Milky Ways were crossing the Murghab night sky and were turning into one starry twinkling depth. The night sky was completely white and unbelievably stunning. Read

Shiva Ratri is a Hundu festival. At the Great Night, the Lord Shiva performed a dance of the creation, maintenance, and destruction. Shiva Hindus mark this night as overcoming darkness and ignorance in life and the world. According to legend, it might rain on the day before the Great Night. Read

This past April, our team of five: Judith, Tom, Julia, Blanca, and myself decided to discover the relatively unexplored far western corner of Nepal. I recall how, on hearing of our intentions, one of my friends in Berlin said, “If you want to see the Real Nepal, go to the far west of the country.” No sooner said than done. Read